Repaired Ntungamo road turns into a death trap

Ntungamo. The rising carnage on Mbarara-Ntungamo-Kabale highway is worrying the residents and the police have urged pedestrians and motorists to be careful.In the last month alone, 10 people died in accidents on the Ntungamo-Kabale section which is currently under rehabilitation.

Ntungamo District Police Commander Baker Kawonawo said most of the accidents are caused by recklessness, indiscipline and poor road user awareness.“When the road was in poor state; there were not as many accidents. When we think the road is safer, we are getting many deaths. There is increasing indiscipline on the road and most of our drivers are reckless. Other people do not know how to use the road well,” Mr Kawonawo said on Thursday.On Wednesday evening, a speeding vehicle knocked dead an unidentified pedestrian near Ntungamo Town.

Mr Charles Dabanja, the district traffic and road safety officer, said the absence of road marks on the widened road is the major cause of accidents. “Most deaths are of children who are knocked by speeding vehicles as they cross the road. Everyone is relaxed yet lives are being lost,” said Mr Dabanja.The spokesperson of Reynold Construction Company, which is working on the road, Mr Wilber Mugyenyi, said road marks will be done after completion of the project.

police officer claimed by the roadLate last year, a police constable attached to Lokoru Albine Construction Company in Kabale town council was killed after a speeding tipper lorry knocked him on the Kabale– Ntungamo road. The officer is reported to have died on the spot at Kigongi cell opposite Kabale Police barracks. The accident happened at 8pm when the police constable was crossing the road to the police barracks. He was buried in Nakapiripiriti District in Karamoja.